Nothing a lil sugar can't fix...

I know it's bad...but after 3 VERY stressful days and 1 more week of stress to come I find that a little chocolate and sugar sure to make things so much better...not on the waistline mind you but everywhere else!

This semester for me has been all about faith. Here's why:

1. I met a wonderful group of ladies for a bible study regarding faith this semester.
2. I have had to relearn how to have faith in myself in regards to school grades following one semi-bad and one horrific semester last year.
3. I have experienced how my faith has affected my relationship with God. Honestly, I'm not sure why I didn't do this one earlier because it is really amazing to sit back and let Jesus work in your own life and handle the things that you knew without a doubt you had no control over...and even the things you thought you did.
4. I have learned to have faith when it comes to other people. From sharing my own faith, to encouraging others to find their own faith God has truly revealed himself to me and hopefully through me.
5. I have learned that the key to a good marriage comes from a great relationship with our Heavenly Father and that through them all things are possible. I am excited to start my life with Joe but also to start a new page in my spiritual relationship as well.
6. God has shown me the important things in life as well as the petty things. In return, I have realized that nearly everything we face is petty compared to the power of God. He holds the world in His hands.

Now on the lighter side, here are some things I have learned in my time as a undergraduate student at UCA:

1. Flip flops + Rain in Conway = not such a good idea...unless you like to fall down...or are just feeling gutsy...or stupid
2. Rainboots are Heaven sent...when it rains, it FLOODS!
3. My bestest friend is an 8 year old because I love to watch the world through her eyes.
   
4. You can always go home....
5. I will never understand Chemistry.....and I don't really want to....(the latter statement might be directly related to the first)
6. Anything can taste good if it's free
7. Day planners are essential
8. It is a rule that everyone will get sick the week before and/or during finals....but now I know the scientific answer behind it....
9. Staying up studying all night is never a good idea and really never turns out to be a happy ending
10. Mountain Dew's and cookies for breakfast are not cure-alls
11. Being open and public with my faith was far harder than any class I have yet to take and probably will take. I learned not only that people do not share the same belief altogether as me, but also people who say they are Christians can have a totally different take concerning God than I do. I don't mean this bad or anything, I just mean that before college, I just assumed that if you were a Christian, you had the same beliefs as everyone else.
12. My family is the most important thing in my life! Before college, I took them for granted so many times. I saw them everyday and couldn't wait for the day that I would leave for college. I vowed to never look back and that I would never go home on the weekends unless I just had too. That approach lasted about 3 months
13. The most sentimental time is when your Grandfather asked you to pray at his table at Thanksgiving.

I have grown up so much over the past 4 1/2 years from first setting foot on this campus as an 18-year-old child to getting ready to set foot on a stage I never thought I would make it to as a 23-year-old child (what? I've still got learning to do!!)....My experiences and life lessons here have prepared the way in which God has already laid out for me.

Just gotta have faith!